Coin controlled vending mechanism



Aug. 13, 1 940. METTLER 2,211,512

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1937 60 54(co/r7) uv VE/VTO Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM Josef Mettler, Allenwinden, Zug, Switzerland, as-

signor to Landis & Gyr, A-G., a body corporate of Switzerland Application September 15, 1937, Serial No. 163,879 In Switzerland October 9, 1936 9 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in coin controlled energy measuring and dispensing means, and more especially to such improvements in setting and releasing means whereby the power circuit switch is closed and is then opened after a predetermined consumption of current.

Objects and advantages of the invention will v, be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of a mechanism embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a top plan corresponding to Fig. 1, both figures being partly diagrammatic for the sake of clearness in the showing.

The invention provides improvements in that type of prepayment electricity meters and controls therefor wherein the main switch is opened and closed by a spring-controlled actuatcircuit switch, the switch-actuating member be .ing held in retracted position by detent means releasable at the proper time by the quantity or metering mechanism, the mechanism preventing any interference with the set mechanism through manipulation of the setting handle after the circuit has been switched on following the insertion of a coin which effects aconnection between said handle and said meteringmechanism to permit setting of the latter. Objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this type which is unusually simple, sturdy, compact and reliable, and to these ends the invention provides a quick acting eccentric mechanism mounted on a shaft which is spring-im-' pelled, and is released for its spring action by the coin controlled handle, and thereby rotates a cam on the shaft, the cam engaging directly with a rectilinearly slidable actuator and moving it against a spring to permit the main switch to close under its own spring action. A spring actuated detent mechanism automatically engages directly with the retracted actuator and holds it, against the impulsion of its spring, in the closed position for the main switch, this detent mechanism being releasable directly by a member moving or positioned by the metering mechanism which has been set by the coin controlled mechanism to vend a predetermined quantity of current. It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detail description as well, are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, terminals I and 2, preferably in the power circuit, are shown springimpelled to close the circuit. In the embodied means operated by the prepayment mechanism for opening and closing the switch, an extension 3 is shown on the terminal 2 carrying a contact member 4 with which a switch actuator directly cooperates to permit the switch to close under its own spring impulsion, and to open the switch against its spring when the prepaid energy has been dispensed or the period has expired. As embodied, a longitudinally reciprocable actuator I0 is mounted by means of longitudinal slots I3 and I4 on studs I I and I2, fixed to the machine frame, whereby the actuator is slidable to and fro in a straight line to control the switch in the manner described. The actuator I0 is impelled to the open-switch position by means of a tension spring I'I, one end of the spring being connected at I8 to the actuator It and the other end at I9 to the machine frame. Thus the spring continuously impels the actuator II! to slide along its studs II and I2 to open the switch I, 2.

In the embodied form of means for moving the actuator I0 against the impulsion of its spring I! to permit the terminals I, 2 to close the circuit, a rotary, spring-impelled, quick-acting mechanism is employed. This mechanism is held against its spring by a detent, and is released from its detent for the quick switch-opening action by the turning of the usual handle. As here embodied, said spring-impelled, quick-acting means comprises a shaft 24, journalled in the machine frame, and fixed on the shaft is an eccentric 25 having an eccentric strap 26. Fixed to the eccentric strap 26 is a stop arm 21, which arm is moved longitudinally by the rotation of the shaft 24 and its eccentric 25 to release it from its stop. Fixed to the stop-arm 27 is a rotatable double cam 29, the stop-arm 2'! and cam 29 being mounted free to rotate on the eccentric 25. The stop arm and cam are held longitudinally in place on the eccentric 25 by a flange 30 formed on the inner face of the eccentric and by collar 3| fixed on shaft 24, and backing on the front face of the eccentric 25.

Stop-arm 21 and cam 29 are under impulsion to rotate (in the clockwise direction, Figure l) by the action of a spring 32, coiled about the shaft 24, with one end fixed to the inner face of the cam 29 and its other end fixed in a collar 33 fixed to the shaft 24. Stop arm 2'! is normally held from rotation under the impulsion of its spring 32 by its engagement with one or the other of two stops 3'! and 38 fixed on the machine frame a semi-diameter apart. Stop-arm 2'! is retracted by rotation of the eccentric 25 and is drawn inwardly clear of either stop, and is then given a quick half rotation by spring 52!, as will be here- -inafter more fully explained. The cam 29, as it rotates with stop arm 21, engages with a cam roller 45, rotatably mounted on the side of the actuator iii, and thus moves the actuator against the impulsion of its spring I! to circuit closing position as shown in Fig. 1.

Means are provided for holding the actuator it in this retracted or closed circuit position (after it has been brought there on the deposit of the coin) and for releasing the actuator to open the switch (after the predetermined quantity of electricity has been vended). As embodied, a spring detent plate is fixed to the top face of the actuator IS, and extends rearwardly therefrom. De tent plate 43 has an internal slot M formed medianly therein and has a solid outer end. Coacting with this detent member 43 is a ratchet wheel 45, which is connected through a train of multiplying gears 65 with a shaft 47 on which is fixed a stop arm 48. With the stop arm 48 coacts a cylindrical rotary detent member 59 fixed on a shaft 62, which is rotated in one direction during the manual setting of the mechanism and is rotated in the opposite direction during the vending period. While stop arm 33 engages the cylindrical surface of member 55 it is held, but when surface 5! comes into register with the stop arm it is free to rotate under impulsion of spring H. The actuating handle 52 is the usual handle which, upon the deposit of a coin is connected to the quantity mechanism and the handle may be rotated to set the quantity mechanism to dispense current to the amount corresponding to the deposited coin. The mechanism for rotating the member 56 and its shaft 62 during the energy vending period and during the setting operation may be of any known or suitable form. In the illustrated coin-operated setting means, the shaft 24, on which the external hand knob 52 is mounted has a coin receiving slot in its inner end. Alined therewith is a shaft 53 having a like coin slot, and when a coin 54 is inserted the shafts 26 and 53 are coupled together by the coin 56. After a half rotation of the knob 52 the coin 54 drops out and disconnects the shafts. The connections from shaft 53 to detent 58 comprise gearing 55, connected to rotate with a sun wheel 56 of a diiferential gear 57. The driving connections during the energy vending period as shown comprise a meter disc 60, which drives gearing 59, which is connected to rotate with the other sun wheel 58 of the differential gear 51. The planet gear 6| of the differential is rotatably mounted on an arm fixed to shaft 62. Thus the handle 52 can rotate the shaft 62 and detent 50 in one direction to set the mechanism to dispense a predetermined quantity of energy, and the meter will drive shaft 62 in the opposite direction during the consumption of the predetermined quantity of current.

The manner of operation of the foregoing mechanism is substantially as follows: The mecha nism may be considered in the open circuit position, with the actuator l drawn (to the right in Fig. 1) by the tension of the spring I! so as to hold the terminals 1 and 2 in the open pos1- tion. On deposit of the required coin, the customer can turn the handle 52, and thereby rotate the shaft 23 and therewith the eccentric 25. The rotation of eccentric 25 retracts stop arm 2! and it slides along the detent, either 3'! or 38, until it moves clear of the stop, and thereupon spring 32 imparts a quick semi-rotation to the stop arm and cam 29 until the stop arm strikes the other stop. During this semi-rotation one half of double cam 29 engages with the cam roller 4i and slides actuator 3 to the left against spring ll, to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the terminals l and 2. are permitted to close the circuit as shown in that figure. When the actuator IQ is in open circuit position, the solid outer end 43a of detent 43 is in engagement with the tips of the teeth of ratchet wheel 45, and during the movement of actuator iii to the left, to the position shown in Fig. l, the slot 54 moves into register with the ratchet teeth and the detent .3 snaps upwardly and the ratchet teeth enter the slot. There is then a slight retractive movement of the actuator it, and the spring detent 43 looks with the ratchet 55 and holds the actuator if) in circuit-closing position against the impulsion of its spring ll. The rotation of the handle 52 in setting the quantity mechanism has turned the stop 50 to approximately the position shown in Fig. l, and the cylindrical surface of stop 50 prevents rotation of the detent arm 18. During the consumption of current the stop 50 rotates in counter-clockwise direction, and as soon as the flat releasing surface reaches detent arm 48, that arm rotates in the direction of the arrow, and spring ll quickly moves actuator I i! to the right in Fig. 1, and there is a corresponding quick-breaking of the circuit at the terminals I and 2. During this movement of the actuator l0, and of the gearing between it and the detent arm 48, wheel 45 rotates counterclockwise, and the ratchet teeth again cam or bend the spring detent 43 downwardly until the points of the ratchet teeth engage the flat end 43a of the detent. The mechanism is then at rest until another coin is inserted.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including, in combination, a circuit controlling switch, an actuator adapted to open the switch, a spring connected to the actuator to move it in one direction, a rotatable cam for moving said actuator against its spring to switch closing position, spring means adapted to move said cam to force the actuator in one direction against the action of its spring, means manually movable for energizing said cam moving spring, means normally holding said cam against rotation and connections between said holding means and said manually movable means, whereby the manually movable means may be operated to release the holding means and energize the spring to move the cam.

2. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a circuit controlling switch, a reciprocable actuator spring impelled to open the switch, a rotatable cam engaging said actuator to move it against its spring to switch closing position, a shaft on which said cam is freely mounted, detent means holding said cam against rotation, spring means connected to said cam and shaft, and means operated by rotation of said shaft for energizing said spring means and for releasing said detent to permit rotation of said cam by its spring.

3. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a circuit controlling switch, a reciprocable actuator for the switch and a spring adapted to move said actuator in one direction, means for moving said actuator against the force of its spring to actuate the switch, said means comprising a spring actuated device for moving the actuator and a detent holding said spring actuated moving device against its spring, and manually operable means for causing said detent to release said spring impelled moving device and energize its spring.

4. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a circuit controlling switch, a reciprocable actuator for the switch and a springadapted to move said actuator in one direction, means for moving said actuator against the force of its spring to actuate the switch, said means comprising a spring actuated rotatable cam adapted to move said actuator, means for holding said cam against rotation,

and manually operable means for causing said holding means to release said cam.

5. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a circuit con- I trolling switch, a reciprocable actuator for the switch and a spring adapted to move said actuator in one direction, means for moving said actuator against the force of its spring to actuate the switch, said means comprising a spring actuated device for moving the actuator, including a rotatable cam adapted to engage said actuator, means for holding said cam against rotation including a stop, a stop arm connected to said cam and means for releasing the stop arm from the stop, and manually operable means for actuating said stop arm releasing means.

6. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a circuit controlling switch, a reciprocable actuator for the switch, a

rotatable cam for moving said actuator, spring means adapted to rotate said cam, stop means for preventing rotation of said cam by its spring, and means for releasing said stop means to permit rotation of said cam and energize its spring to rotate said cam.

'7 A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a quantity measuring mechanism, a circuit controlling switch, a longitudinally reciprocable actuator spring impelled to open the switch and a spring adapted to move said actuator in one direction, a shaft and an eccentric fixed thereon, an eccentric strap mounted on the eccentric, a stop arm fixed on the eccentric strap, a spring tending to-rotate said arm, stop means with which said stop arm engages to hold said arm against rotation by its spring, a cam loosely mounted on said eccentric and engageable with said actuator, said cam being fixed to rotate with said stop arm to move said actuator against its spring to switch closing position, detent means for holding said actuator against its spring and means to release said detent means for holding said actuator, said releasing means being controlled by the quantity measuring mechanism.

8. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a quantity measuring mechanism, a circuit controlling switch, a reciprocable actuator spring impelled to open the switch, a shaft and an eccentric fixed thereon, an eccentric strap mounted on the eccentric, a stop arm fixed on the eccentric strap, a spring tending to rotate said arm, stop means with which said stop arm engages to hold said arm against its spring, a cam loosely mounted on said eccentric and fixed to rotate with said stop arm, means coacting with said cam to move said actuator against its spring to switch closing position, detent means for holding said actuator against its spring and for releasing it, including a ratchet wheel and a stop arm connected to rotate with said ratchet wheel, and a rotatable detent and release device controlled by the quantity measuring mechanism.

9. A prepayment electricity vending mechanism including in combination a quantity measuring mechanism, a circuit controlling switch, a reciprocable actuator spring impelled to open the switch, means for retracting said actuator against its spring to permit the switch to close, a spring detent mounted on said actuator and having an internal slot, a detent means for holding said actuator against its spring and for releasing it, including a ratchet wheel cooperating with said spring detent and the slot therein, a stop arm gear connected to said ratchet wheel, and a rotatable detent and release device for said stop arm moving with the quantity measuring mechanism.

JOSEF ME'ITLER. 

